Fifteen jobs have been saved after party shop Fun ‘n’ Frolic won its battle to trade from an industrial estate.

The costume shop, which has traded in the town for more than two decades and was supported by the Evening Post’s Keep Trade Local campaign, faced closure after its original planning application to open in Richfield Avenue was turned down by Reading planners who claimed there were more suitable locations closer to the town centre.

But on Wednesday night Reading Borough Council’s planning committee granted the store its much-needed permission which owner Kelvyn Marketis has hailed as a victory for all small businesses.

The costume shop had been temporarily trading in Richfield Avenue after Mr Marketis decided not to renew the lease for the Crown Street store when it expired on Friday, August 22.

Mr Marketis said: “My biggest fear was that I might have to close the business, but we are very, very pleased with the decision, not only for us but for other small businesses.

“As soon as I heard the decision I felt enormous relief and thought that tomorrow is the day I can start trading again.

“I haven’t slept properly for the last eight weeks.

“I’ve been worrying about the application and trying to get things sorted, but I know it was worth it in the end.”

The Keep Trade Local campaign, masterminded by the Federation of Small Businesses and supported by the Evening Post, has being going from strength to strength since its launch in June.

Small traders across the town have embraced the initiative to breathe life back into local retail by displaying posters in their shop windows and signing an online petition calling for a review of unfair planning laws and parking restrictions.

The aim is to encourage people to shop at independent retailers to protect them from the march of the high street chains and preserve the distinctive character of shopping districts such as the Oxford Road and the Tilehurst Triangle.

And FSB Thames Valley spokeswoman Karen Durcan said the success of Fun ‘n’ Frolic was proof of what can be achieved.

She said: “We are absolutely delighted the council have followed the Keep Trade Local campaign and allowed a long-serving business in Reading to continue trading.

“If we want to retain the choice and competition on the high street then we must support Reading’s small shops and businesses.

“The fact is if we don’t support them now – then soon there won’t be any left at all.”

At Wednesday’s meeting councillor Tony Page said Fun ‘n’ Frolic “had been serving Reading as an important niche business”.

Planning permission for the Richfield Avenue shop was previously refused by town planners who said an industrial area was no place for Fun ‘n’ Frolic.

Mr Marketis added: “We don’t intend to fit the place out properly until January as we are now in the peak party season with Hallowe’en and Christmas coming up, and any work would disrupt our trade.

“But when the shop is fitted out it will be the best party shop in the country.”

The Evening Post’s committed backing of the Keep Trade Local campaign has been included in a national manifesto drawn up by the FSB.

The document, which is being taken to all three political party conferences to promote the initiative, includes images and cuttings of the Evening Post’s recent coverage.

The Evening Post will also take centre stage at the conferences on an FSB banner, which shows the level of support the campaign has had across Reading.

According to the FSB, more than 2,000 local shops are closing each year, and if this trend continues, the organisation estimates there will be no independent stores left by 2015.